9 Things I Wish Someone Told Me About Wedding Planning

Every bride-to-be dreams of a perfect wedding and spends months or even years planning that special day. From choosing the right dress and the right venue to making a playlist and ordering a cake, there are so many things to sort out and it can be overwhelming, especially if you are a perfectionist like me. Looking back on it, I wish I did a few things differently, stressed out less and allowed myself some time to relax and take it all in. Here are my 10 key wedding planning tips for future brides!

1. Have Someone to Help You Plan the Event

If you are anything like me, you will probably think you can have control over every single detail and do it all by yourself, but trust me, there will be times when you simply can’t be present at two locations at the same time. You should get a point person (it can be your maid of honour, mother, sister or a close friend) who will help you handle everything from shopping to making phone calls and maybe even making decisions. Additionally, hiring a venue with their own coordinator will help you keep everything running smoothly on the day.

2. Your Bridal Party Doesn’t Have to Be Huge

Many couples feel obligated to involve all of their close friends and family members in the wedding and end up having a huge wedding party. It may be much more convenient to have a small bridal party, but this shouldn’t be a problem because you can always find a way to make it up to your friends and relatives. To make it super simple, ask your siblings to be your bridesmaids and groomsmen but do prepare special gifts and mementoes for others that are near and dear to you.

3. Venue Matters

At the end of the day, only a few things really matter and your reception venue is definitely one of them. A lot of brides stress out about the decorations but the truth is that the location is even more important. From picture-perfect surroundings to elegant interiors, fabulous layouts and inspirational views, a pretty venue will give you that romantic ambience you want and provide a myriad of amazing photo opportunities. Consider multiple options before you make your final decision and take everything into consideration including food, drink, entertainment and comfort of you and your guests.

4. Make a Photography Checklist

Prior to your wedding day, nobody will tell you that booking a good photographer isn’t quite enough. If you want a perfect album with all the key snaps included in it, it is very important to make a list of images you want to be taken. From capturing your wedding gown, shoes, bouquet and perfume through to romantic send-off images, make sure to write down every single scene you are picturing in your head and had your note to the photographer prior to your big day. This will ensure that none of the key moments is going to be forgotten.

5. Hire a Videographer

With so many details to think about, it is easy to forget something that seems marginal such as wedding videography. While you are swamped in planning, this may not be your top priority, but once it is all over, you will be left with mementoes and a video that recaps that special day will probably be the most important one! And don’t just book anyone! Find a professional who specialises in a type of video you really like, be it a movie-like clip, a documentary or cinematographic wedding video.

6. Something Will Go Wrong and It Is OK

Most brides expect their wedding day to be flawless, but in reality, something often goes wrong. From small accidents and minor mistakes to a natural disaster, be prepared for any eventuality. Make sure to have a plan B whenever possible, have a mini emergency kit with you and appoint one person to be the head of your wedding crisis management. And don’t be disappointed if something slips out of control or if something just isn’t the way you expected it to be. Focus on positive things and have fun because you won’t get a chance to repeat that day.

7. Food and Drinks Are Important

And remember that there is nothing that delicious food and drinks can’t fix. Even if nothing else is as you had hoped to be, the day will still be a success thanks to your fabulous wedding menu. This is why it is really worth choosing a venue that excels at wedding food or a top-notch catering service that’s second to none.  

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Do Things Differently

Weddings are usually about traditions and family heritage and you probably think everyone expects you to stick to the old rules? From the colour of your dress to the choice of food, music and your wedding cake or the order of your ceremony, every element of your big day can be as unique and as unexpected as you wish. Don’t be guided by other people’s expectations and do your big day your way.

9. Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Whole Planning Process

Even though organising a big event such as a wedding may seem like a daunting task, it can actually be a lot of fun. From choosing colours and flowers to tasting wedding food and champagne, there are many exciting things to do. Don’t turn into a bridezilla and try to enjoy the best bits. And allow yourself to stop, take a breath and have some “me time”. Why not organise some pre-wedding pampering with your bridesmaids or attend dancing lessons with your future groom!

Author’s Bio

Kym Wallis, the founding director of Higher Ranking has over 15 years of advertising sales, digital strategy, and business development experience. He is currently working as Digital Adviser for Bioscor.

Wedding Emergency Kit Ideas for the Bride and Her Bridesmaids

When it finally comes to the big day, it’s no shock that things can get a bit hectic for the bride and her bridal party, but it doesn’t have to be. To ensure that the day goes smoothly, creating a Wedding Emergency Kit filled with helpful items is a great idea to have on hand the day of the wedding. This kit will help you have that memorable wedding without any of the disruptions. To prepare you and your bridal party for any unexpected bumps in the road, here are some ideas to pack in your Wedding Emergency Kit!

Snacks & Water

The first and most important items to include in your kit should be snacks and water to sustain energy throughout the day. It’s a big day for you and can get overwhelming at times causing you to forget to eat or drink throughout the day. Have snacks high in protein and plenty of water so that nobody passes out or gets dehydrated. No one wants to be around a hangry bride or bridesmaid!

Perfume & Deodorant

 A big day filled with running around and nerves can make you and your party a little sweaty. Packing mini body sprays and deodorant sticks will make it easy for you and your bridal party to freshen up quickly. If you feel you’ll sweat a lot, especially if your wedding is outdoors on a hot day, there are plenty of ways to freshen up quickly without a shower!

Hair Accessories

Hair brushes, bobby pins, hair spray, and hair ties are all crucial to pack in your kits. You will wish you had all of these when looking back on pictures and notice that random strand of hair hanging. It’s better to have these on hand for any hair mishaps that might happen throughout the day.

Needle and Thread 

Packing a needle and thread is crucial. Make sure to pack the colour of your wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses for an easy fix of any snags that happen throughout the day. It’ll be a quick fix, and no one will realize anything went wrong in the first place.

Mints & Floss

 Wedding days involve a lot of talking, whether it be giving a speech or talking to all of the guests. Pack plenty of mints and floss so that no one has to worry about smelly breath or having food stuck in their teeth in photos. There are even mouthwash tablets to quickly freshen up your whole mouth. Chapstick would also be a great addition to add here to prevent your lips from getting dry. 

 Mini First Aid Kit

 A mini first aid kit is a great idea to include in your wedding emergency kit! Pack it with band-aids, burn relief, eye drops, etc. This will give you some peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen to you or your bridal party, you have the essentials.

Medications

To help with any ailments that may happen during the wedding, medications such as ibuprofen and allergy medicine are great to include in your kit just in case. It’s also good to remind your bridal party to bring any medications they take on a daily basis, such as prescribed birth control, an inhaler, or EpiPen. 

Stain Remover 

Bringing something like a stain remover stick could really save the day! There’s no preventing a spill, but there is a way to fix it if it does happen. For the bride, white chalk is another great fix to cover up the stain without anyone noticing. For more last-minute stain removing tips, go here!

 Travel Size Makeup

Even the best beauty gurus need to touch up their makeup throughout the day, especially when you’re wearing more makeup than usual. Be sure to pack a good blotting powder, bronzer, lipstick, and anything else you think you and your bridal party would like. Having travel size makeup will make touch-ups a breeze.

How To Personalise Your Wedding For Your Guests

 As much as this is your day, and no one will take that away from you or upstage you, the one thing you shouldn’t place at the bottom of the list is your guests. After all, these people make the wedding what it is – with their presence, their energy, and hence deserve to be honored. They are there to celebrate and witness your commitment; therefore, their happiness, joy and of course, thoughtful party favors should be near the top of your priority list. 

Just in case you’re swamped planning all the other details of your wedding, such as the photography, the perfect venue, catering, décor and wedding attireand beauty department, we’re here with an incredible list of thoughtful ideas that will make your guests feel highly cherished. It’s time to show them how much their presence means to you. 

Starting before the beginning 

The best way to set a personal tone long before the wedding is with personalized save the date cards and/or invitations. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t have to break the bank. You can choose the cards and invites that speak to your personality, but you can perhaps include a hand-written note with an inside joke or something sentimental to each of your guests, or even include a photo in the envelope to show them that this particular invite was meant just for them. 

The mandatory step 

Instead of simply placing numbers on the tables, walk the extra mile and have individual place cards with everyone’s name on them. You may not think these things matter all that much, but they show your guests that you’ve thought of them and made sure they sit at the best place for them. Also, take your time with the seating chart and ensure that all the people who are placed together are in friendly terms. This will make the conversation flow, and people will have much more fun when they’re seated next to someone they know and love. 

The little things that mean the world 

Whether you are planning on a big or a small wedding, centerpiecesare a must-have. However, instead of the uniformed centerpieces, perhaps you can dig through your memories and think which flowers are your guests’ favorites. Of course, you don’t want to throw off the entire color palette by having completely different centerpieces, but compromise can always be found. If you’re for instance, going for white flowers, make sure you go for a variety in terms of the types of flowers so every table feels like you did something special for them. 

To cherish and to use 

Party favors should never be chosen at the last minute. Trust us, when you do something at quarter to twelve, it shows, and your guests will know it. There are tons of gorgeous party favor ideas, from personalized phone cases, magnets they can put on their fridge, a voucher for an upcoming event. Another amazing idea, that is both practical, useful and meaningful if quality cosmetics packages placed in gorgeous gift bags. 

If you’re throwing a French-themed wedding, for instance, the venue will probably have an abundance of French things like lavender, chic tablecloths, stemless wine glasses and all things French. To give them a little touch of Provence to take home, hand or facial creams, body mists or massage oils from the incredible L’Occitane linewill make for a perfect wedding memento. For the gentlemen, you can incorporate shaving creams or a fragrance – all depending on your knowledge of their taste. It will be a gift that will remind them of the gorgeous day every time they use it, and they will use it frequently. 

An extra dose of personalized fun 

Sure, eventually, when you get to it, you will send your guests your wedding photos via email. However, people love to have an instant memento they can take home, which is why renting out a photo booth is an awesome investment. They can take silly photos with different masks and goofy props, and even the two of you can pop inside the booth and be in the photos as well. Make sure you stock up on those masks and props, because trust us, there will be people who will want to take them home. 

Last, but not least 

Traditionally, weddings include a plethora of people from different generations and different tastes in music. We know it’s your day and you want the kind of music that the two of you can dance it out to, but don’t be oblivious to your guest’s desires too. If some oldies should be included for all the moms, grandparents and cousins, so be it. The playlist should include more than the top 50 dance hits. In this aspect, you should be a people pleaser and have everyone’s music taste in mind. In the end, you want a full dancefloor of happy people having fun, correct? Well, then pay special attention to your wedding playlist. 

Giving back to those who came to celebrate you on one of the biggest days of your life isn’t difficult. It simply takes a little consideration and attention to detail. If you can plan an entire wedding from scratch, you can include these little things as well. It won’t hurt you, but it will show your guests just how much you appreciate them being there.  

About The Author

Sophia Smith is a fashion and beauty blogger, a graphic designer and a DIY enthusiast. Design plays a huge role in her personal expression. Also, she focusing on minimalism and good quality. Sophia love sharing content that inspires people. She has contributed to a number of publications including: Viva Glam Magazine, Just Haves, Secret Garden, Cause Artist, How to Simplify and Carousel.

You can find out more about her writing by following her on: Facebook  Twitter  Google +

10 Things to Put on Your Honeymoon Packing List

Now that the wedding euphoria is officially over, you and your hubby can finally concentrate on your first vacay preps as a married couple, and you don’t want to miss some of the things we’ve listed here. 

A pouch will do

If you are heading to an exotic destination, then packing the whole makeup kit is complete nonsense. You don’t need a lot of makeup for hot weather as your face can turn runny, and you’ll eventually end up using only three or four products. It would be best if you could go for the products that will give you a healthy glow and make you look fresh all the time. Take a mascara, an SPF cream, a bronzer and some sheer lipgloss, and you’ll look like the goddess you are. Also, a seductive fragrance is likely to spice up your first days of marriage.

Great hair do care

If you want to avoid looking like Monica from the episode of ‘Friends’ where she had her hair all frizzy due to humidity, then don’t rely on your hotel room’s hair dryers, ‘cause they will probably do the same to your hair. Since you can’t bring your hair stylist to third wheel your honeymoon, and do your hair at the same time, having a hair straightener or a curling wand would save the day. However, a quality hair dryer is more important, so you won’t have to overpack your suitcase with both of the hot tools. You can easily get your hair straight while blow drying and combing at the same time. 

Travel iron

We are all familiar with that horrible feeling of seeing our clothes wrinkled when the vacay hasn’t even started yet. No matter how well you’ve organized your luggage, wrinkles are inevitable and are there to remind us our holiday can suck, too. Therefore, a mini iron could be your lifesaver, as they are very compact and won’t use too much space.

Bathing suit

Regardless of the destination, there will always be a pool where you can hang out and drink cocktails, or a spa center where you two lovebirds can spend a romantic evening. Look for swimwear that emphasizes your best features and conceals the flaws. A one-piece is a good choice, and if you are already sunkissed, then opt for bright colors like hot red, tangerine, or yellow.

Instant Polaroid camera

I’m sure you’ll want to capture every single moment spent with your bae. This cool, retro gadget lets you have physical photos that will make your memories last forever, and you can make a small photo album afterwards. You can also keep some of the dearest photos in your wallet, which will always remind you of your perfect honeymoon.

Books

Some light-literature would do, especially when you want to switch off from the world.

Insect repellent

Although this doesn’t blend with our sexy essentials list, you’d certainly want to escape the ‘I told you so’ line from your mom when you get back home. An insect repellent spray is a must-have, and it’s suitable for a couple traveling anywhere tropical. It is extremely efficient on ticks, mosquitos or anything that bites. So, be smart and better get yourself one, before the annoying bugs get you.

Nail tools

Since you’re gonna be around water too much, you don’t want to risk your nails getting chipped and nasty. 

Surprise him with some fierce outfits

Considering you’re newlyweds now, every night should be a special date night. That’s why you have to make a few killer combinations that will leave him speechless. Think in advance what clothes you’ll be wearing each night and make it sultry! 

So, looking forward to your ‘luna de miel’? If so, take some of these things into account and thank us later.

This article is written by Brigitte Evans from highstylife.com

A Guide To Grooming for The Groom

As the groom, the effort you need to put into looking your best for the big day might not seem too stressful. After all, the focus of most of your wedding guests is going to be on your beautiful, blushing bride, who has no doubt read up on every beauty checklist she could find. 

However, while all eyes are going to be on her, it’s important to remember that she’ll only have eyes for you. It’s the moment that she’ll remember forever - the day that you both vowed to love each other forever, in good times and in bad. You’ll want to make sure that the picture she saves in her memory is a good one.

Here are some tips to make sure you look sharp. 

Get Fit

If you have a few months before your nuptials, set some fitness goals for yourself and get into a workout routine. Getting in shape does more than help you tone up or slim down, it helps to boost your confidence and works as an effective stress reliever. Your workout could be as simple as going for a walk on lunch, or as intensive as setting up time with a personal trainer. It all depends on the goals that you set for yourself. Plus, if your bride-to-be is looking for ways to slim down and fit into her dream dress, developing a fitness plan can be something you do together!

Take Care of Your Skin      

 Skincare is essential in looking and feeling your best. The last thing you want is to be dealing with a stress-induced breakout on the day of your wedding. Take steps to maintain a clear complexion by making sure to follow a regular skin care routine with a standard facial cleanser and moisturizer. If you can, try not to use any new products too soon before you say your ‘I do’s’, since a change in product can cause more breakouts.

For many men, shaving is another component in taking care of their skin. Since your bride-to-be probably doesn’t have experience in best practices for facial shaving, it’s mostly up to you to make sure that you shave properly. Improper shaving practices can cause you to breakout, so it’s important that you alternate out your razor every 6-8 weeks, store it in a dry place away from your shower to avoid bacteria build-up caused by water exposure, and properly navigate the grains of your facial hair. 

The Small Details Matter Most

As the groom, you don’t generally have to worry about a range of dress options since your go-to is going to be a simple black tuxedo. With your outfit pretty much decided, the small details in your appearance are what truly matters. This means making sure that your teeth, nails and eyebrows are all groomed to perfection. 

Imagine it’s time to complete your vows and have your bride put on your wedding ring only for her to see your dirty fingernails - yuck! Make a spa day with your bride-to-be and treat yourself to a mani-pedi. If you want to save money, try having a DIY beauty night at home. Also, consider switching out your toothpaste for one with whitening qualities or trying out whitening strips.

While everyone’s telling the bride she looks like a princess - you’ll look like the proper prince she deserves.

Perfect Presents for the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

Planning a wedding is an overwhelming and high-stress few months. You become consumed by cake options, buying decorations, finding the perfect photographer and a lot of other small details. Luckily, you have a group of trusted friends and family members to help offer you support every step of the way. So, even if you are feeling the stress of planning, you cannot forget thank you gifts for your wedding party. After all, they organize and throw your bachelor(ette) parties and a wedding shower! So, we’ve put together a list of a few thoughtful presents for every budget, to help you show your appreciation to your wedding party.

 Accessories

Image by Dahlia & Grace Photography

Gifting your bridesmaids and groomsmen accessories that can be worn for your wedding day and long after, shows them that you put a lot of thought into thanking them. The last thing you want to do is give them something that they will feel obligated to hold onto but won’t want to use after your special day ends. 

Jewellery will always be a timeless gift for the bridesmaids. If you want to give your girls something that can be worn in the wedding, sticking with something simple is best. A pair of earrings with a matching necklace is a perfect and affordable present. Your girls will have plenty of options to wear this set long after your wedding. If you want to gift the bridesmaids something that they won’t be wearing for the wedding and get something more in line with their personal style, consider a charm braceletfeaturing their favorite quote, color or animal. Putting in a little extra care to get something you know they will love is perfect to show your appreciation.

Your groomsmen will look dapper with a matching tie bar and cufflink set, get yourself a set as well, and the whole crew will look on-point! Plus, you can personalize these ones with their first initial, this will offer them a gift that they will want to wear to every formal occasion from now on.

If you want a fun and casual photo opportunity for your whole wedding party, then look into getting sunglasses for everyone by ordering in bulk. This will save you money and time, by making one simple purchase for every person in your wedding. And you will be bringing the whole group together by giving them a matching gift that can be worn for a fun photoshoot.

Outings 

Image by Dahlia & Grace Photography

To thank your wedding party and show off just how well you know them, gift them each an experience you know they will enjoy. After months of helping you plan, maybe a few out of your crew need a relaxing spa day. You can head to a local spa and get gift certificates for massages, manicures or pedicures. Or if your wedding party is full of foodies, then grab certificates at a new local eatery for them to try. This is another idea that has endless options, although it may be more pricey, it is thoughtful and will take very little time out of your planning schedule to achieve! 

Gift Baskets

If you and your fiancé are frugal and crafty, then look no further than Pinterest. The options are truly endless here and give you the perfect opportunity to get personal and thoughtful. So, have a fun night in with your fiancé crafting each bridesmaid and groomsmen their own gift basket. Maybe your maid-of-honor loves to be in her kitchen, cooking and baking any chance she can get. Throw together a basket full of tea towels, measuring cups, a rolling pin and spices! Or if one of your groomsmen is a movie buff, make a basket full of DVDs of current releases and popcorn, candy and soda to set him up for a night of binge watching.

Thanking the wedding party is a necessary task, but it doesn’t have to add any more stress to you or blow out your wedding budget. The bridesmaids and groomsmen support you from the moment you are engaged until the minute the reception ends. By giving them a thoughtful present you are thanking them for their hard work and friendship over the months leading up to your special day.